Sliding window latch



March 11, 1958 McFr-:RRELL HoLLANswoRTH 2,826,443

SLIDING WINDOW LTCH .Filed Feb. 1o. 195e IN V EN TOR.

232.64.43 srmlNeiwINDow-Lxren Mflsrrsll lillaaswsrfla ylttsburgli, ,Pa., assignor to Applicationnebmaryio, 1956,1seria1 No. 554,322 sciaims. (Cian-139) his i ention relates to latches for holdingtsliding Windows closed.

'There is need for such at'lateh which is `of ysimple and inexpensive construction" and dependable roperation. i There also are"locations in which thelatch must `occupy only a small space"because the window-frame is narrowwand it may be desirable to mount another window a short distance from theinside of the sliding window. Accordingly, it is among the objects of this invention to provide such a latch.

In accordance with the invention a latch plate, having an opening through it, is fastened to the inside of a sliding window sash with the opening registering with a hole in the sash. Slidably mounted in the plate opening is a plunger, which projects from opposite sides of the plate. A lever is pivotally connected to one end of the plate and extends across the inner end of the plunger, to which it is pivotally connected. The outer end of the plunger has a head which is located inside the Window sash hole when the lever is in its inner position. When the lever is swung outward toward the window, the plunger is projected into a stationary member to prevent the window from moving. Preferably, this stationary member contains a resilient clip, which frictionally grips the head of the plunger. The plate is provided with a guide having a pair of side members between the plunger and the opposite ends of the plate. These side members frictionally engage the opposite sides of the plunger to help guide it and to hold it in its retracted position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the inside of a sliding window;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of my latch;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof in unlatched position;

Fig. 4 is a plan View;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2, but with the parts in latching position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the` line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a window A is shown mounted for sliding movement horizontally in a wall opening or window frame. The area that is covered by the sliding window when it is open may also include a window B, which generally will be stationary. This window has a sash 1, one end of which is overlapped by one end of the sliding window sash 2 when window A is closed. A latch C is mounted on the overlapping part of the sliding sash for connecting it in a manner about to be described to the other sash in order to lock the sliding Window in closed position.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5 of the drawings, the latch supports a mounting plate 3, which is secured to the sash 2 of the sliding window, usually to one of its upright members. The upper end of the plate has inwardly turned parallel ears 4 that are straddled by similar ears 6 on the upper end of a lever 7. The two pairs of ears are pivotally connected by a rivet 8. The lever 'ice extends-down below the-mountingplate "andhas :parallel rside flanges 9 projecting ftpw'ard that 4` plate.

The plateis providedwithfa centrlopeninglh in which ahorizontal plunger 12is lSlidably mounted.' The plunger ypreferably is anarrowmetal bar and the plate opening is a slotin which itlits. The inner endo'ftheplunger extends between the Ianges ofthe lever and has "a pin 13 extending through it. The pin isiheldin place by the lever .anges and `is held in thelever bywshort ribs .14, which project toward reach 'i other firent the edges of `thelllanges .on oppositefsides of the-plunger. The 'inner surfaces= of these ribslarre substantially `engagedby `the pin, whilethe rounded end lof `the plungersubstantially engages the body of the lever. The plunger is thus pivotally connected "with fthe lever "andcan `bemoved back andforth throughtheplate byit. 'Window sash 2 is provided with Jalhole, registering -iwnithopening '11, receiving the outerend oftheplunger'.

`In order fto .prevent any it'endency vof A the plunger from swinging up and down in the `-thin Amounting pl'ate,` a

Aguide is mounted @inthe-inner surface ofthe plate. This 1,guide `includes `alliat metalstrip 16 riveted lto the plate at one side `of the plunger and has an inwardly turned portion at one end extending along the plunger a short distance in engagement with the adjoining side. The top and bottom of this portion are provided with guide members or ears 17 that are bent across the upper and lower surfaces of the plunger in frictional engagement therewith. These ears not only hold the plunger horizontal, but they also hold the plunger in its inner position when it is pulled out of sash 1 by the lever.

The outer end of the plunger has a head 18 which is located entirely within window sash Z when the plunger is retracted, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the head will not interfere with the sliding of the window. When the window sash is hollow, such as when formed from sheet metal or an extrusion, the plunger-receiving hole through it contains a bushing 19, in which the head of the plunger is guided without danger of its catching on the sash. When lever 7 is swung outwardly toward 'the mounting plate, the plunger head is projected from window sash 2 and into a hole 20 in the sash 1 of the other window, as shown in Fig. 5. This will prevent the sliding window from being opened.

In order to resist removal of the projected plunger from the fixed sash 1, a resilient member is mounted in that sash for frictionally engaging the head ofthe plunger. Preferably a spring clip 21 is used which, as shown in Fig. 6, is more or less U-shaped and formed. from a piece of spring wire. The legs of the clip are inserted in vertically spaced holes 22 in the side of the hollow sash and are provided with notches 23 which hold the clip in place. The legs also are bowed away from the sliding sash, and the opposite ends of the clip are pressed against the adjoining face of sash 1 to help hold the clip in place. The head of the plunger has a chamfered end that spreads the clip when the plunger is pushed against it. The rest of the head preferably tapers toward the mounting plate, so that in order to withdraw the head from the clip the latter will have to be spread apart slightly. This forms a good lock for the plunger until lever 7 is pulled away from the window.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A latch for a sliding window sash having a hole therethrough, the latch comprising a mounting plate having an opening through it and adapted to be fastened to the window sash with said opening registering with said "hole, a plunger lslidably mounted in said plate Aopening and projectingk from oppositel sides of the plate, a lever j pivotally connected to one end of the plate and extending across the inner end of the plunger, the central portion of the lever having side anges extending toward the --plate and terminating in ribs projecting'toward each other drawn into said sash hole when the lever is in its inner position and projected into a stationary member when the lever is in its outer position to lock the window sash. i 1' -2. A window comprising a sliding sash having a .hole therethrough, a latch fastened to the inside of the sash and having an opening through it registering with said hole, a plunger slidably mounted in said plate hole and projecting from opposite sides of the plate, a lever pivotally connected to one end of the plate and extending across the inner end of the plunger, the central portion of the lever having side anges extending toward the plate and 4 Y terminating in ribs projecting toward each other with the inner end of the plunger between them, a pin extending through said inner end and having its ends slidably engaging the inner surface of the ribs, the inner end of the plunger slidably engaging the lever, the outer end of the plunger having a head located in said sash hole when the lever is in its inner position and projected into a stationary member when the lever is in its outer position to lock the window sash.

3. A latch according to claim 2, including a guide secured to the inner face of said plate and having a portion extending along one side of the plunger toward the lever, said guide portion having side members frictionally engaging the top and bottom of the plunger between them.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

